Valve mechanism for fluid contact apparatus

ABSTRACT

In a fluid contact apparatus, a valve assembly in association with a contact tray, said tray having at least one flow opening therethrough, said flow opening having said valve assembly installed therein, said valve assembly comprising a cover, laterally spaced legs depending therefrom and extending through said flow opening, each of said legs having an outwardly facing foot attached at the extremity thereof, and a travel limiting means, said travel limiting means being at least reciprocally movable on said legs below the underside of said plate.

Price VALVE MECHANISM FOR FLUID CONTACT APPARATUS [75] Inventor: David B. Price, Kansas City. Kans.

[73] Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company,

Bartlesville, Okla.

[22] Filed: Nov. 27, 1972 [21] Appl. No: 309,696

[52] U.S. Cl. 261/144 VT .[51] Int. Cl .l...' B01f 3/04 [58] Field of Search 261/114 VT [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,055,646 9/1962 Eld et-al. .1 261/114 VT 3,287,004 11/1966 Nutter 3,618,912 11/1971 Braun et a1 3,618,913 11/1971 Schramm 261/114 VT June 11, 1974 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,008.400 10/1965 .Great Britain 261/114 VT Primary ExaminerTim R. Miles [5 7] ABSTRACT ing said valve assembly installed therein, said valve assembly comprising a cover, laterally spaced legs depending therefrom and extending through said flow opening, each of said legs having an outwardly facing foot attached at the extremity thereof, and a travel limiting means, said travel limiting means being at least reciprocally movable on said legs below the underside of said plate.

6 Claims, Drawing Figures 1 VALVE MECHANISM FOR FLUID CONTACT APPARATUS The present invention relates to fluid contact apparatus. More particularly, the invention relatesto a valve assembly in association with a contact tray or plate having at least one flow opening therethrough, said flow opening having said valve assembly installed therein.

The apparatus with which the present invention is concerned works on the general principle, which is well known, of passing a less dense fluid through a more dense fluid under conditions permitting. very intimate contact between these fluids of diverse densities. Generally, the less dense fluid is a gas or vapor and the more dense fluid is a liquid. in practice, the heavier fluid flows downwardly through the appratus and transversely across a horizontally disposed member therein, during which passage, the denser material is contacted with the less dense fluid, which rises upwardly in the apparatusthrough flow passages which are provided in the horizontally disposed member and other void spaces in the apparatus. a I

A widely used type of such fluid contact-apparatus is I one in which the horizontally disposed member, i.e.,

contact tray or plate, is provided with a valve assembly disposed in the flow openings through such member. A widely used valve assembly is a floating pivoted valve which may be of elongated flat shape or a suitably curved or circular configuration, so as to overlap and normally close the flow openingin which it is installed. In their working position, the valves operate reciprocally in the vertical direction. As a consequence, the valves have been provided with separate stop members or straps located above the tray in order to limit the upward movement of the valve relative to the tray andto insure its remaining in place with the flow opening. Such stop members require the use of retaining bolts, nuts, rivets, etc., for securing the stop member in a fixed position on the tray. The use of. such stop members, while effective for the intended purpose, increase the cost of manufacture andmaintenance and introduce additional hardware into the apparatus. Because of the flexing of each plate or tray during operation as by temperature differentials, installations which include such hardware are never permanent .with the result being that in time the retaining members are loosened and the entireinst'allation must be refurbishedflo overcome these problems, the surface mounting retaining means can be dispensed with through the use of a valve assembly having a depending means integrally attached to the valve and extendingdownwardly through the flow opening, the depending means being provided with a stop flange which limits the upward movement of the valve relative tothe tray, without requiring the use of .separate stop members or straps, or the use of retaining bolts, nuts, or rivets, etc., on the top side or surface of the tray for securing the stop members in a fixed position on the tray. While significantly simplifying the apparatus by a substantial reduction in the num ber of component pieces, such valves are nevertheless subject to being displaced from the flow opening'in which they are situated through erosion of the plate surface or failure of the depending means and/or its associated stop flange.

, An object of the invention is to provide a simple, efficient, economical valve assemblyto be used in association with contact trays or plates of fluid contact apparatus, It is another object of the invention to provide a valve. assembly for-fluid contact apparatus, said valve. assembly having incorporated therein a travel limiting;

. tacting apparatus comprising a tray surface having at least one flow opening in said surface for permittingvapors to rise therethrough, in combination with a selfretaining valve assembly positioned in saidflow opening. More particularly, the valve assembly is a selfretaining floating pivoted valve which may be of elongated flat shape or asuitably curved or circular configuration, so as to overlap and normally close a fl'ow opening in the tray. Optionally, the valve can be so designed as to incompletely close the flow opening in the tray. In the valve assemblies of the instant invention, each valve is characterized by having a coveror cap, a depending means preferably integrally attached thereto and extendable through a flow opening, and a travel limiting means, which travel limiting means engages the underside of the tray, whereby the upward movement.

of the valve relative to the tray during the operation of the valve is limited without requiring the use of separate stop members, straps, or the use of retaining bolts, nuts, or rivets, etc., for securing the stop member in a fixed position on the tray. More particularly, the depending means is provided with an outwardly facing. foot which is operative to limit the downward movement of said travel limiting means. The travel limiting means is slidably positioned on said depending means and is itself at least reciprocally movable on said depending means. The travel limiting means of the present invention comprises an annulus, the inner periphery of which has a geometric configuration corresponding to the geometric configuration of the flow openinginto which the valve assemblies of the invention are inon the outer periphery to another point displaced 189 on said periphery from said one point, said measurement being made across the annulus between the two points, and having a length greater than the maximum distance between two similarly placed points of said flow opening, measured in a like manner.

Preferably, the inner periphery is circular in shape, with the inside diameter of the annulus being greater than the diameter scribed by the legs of said floating pivoted valved and less than the diameter scribed by the outside edge, i.e. the toe, of the outwardly facing feet of the said legs. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the flow opening is circular in shape and both the inner and outer peripheries of the annulus are circular in shape, with the outer diameter of the annulus being greater than the diameter of said flow opening and the inner diameter of said annulus being as previously described. Preferably, the travel limiting means is constructed of a material identical to that used in making the valves and the contact tray or a material which is unlikely to cause any significant amount of galvanic ac tion.

The valve assemblies of the present invention are 'readily installed by inserting the depending legs permost tray after invention, said FIGURE showing the relative positioning of theindividual components.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the valve assembly, shown in a tilted or intermediate operating position.

Referring to the drawings in greater detail, it will be readily appreciated by the person skilled in the art that both F I68. 1 and 2 are but representative parts of an entire member. As will be appreciated by the person skilled in the art, the contact trays of this invention can used in any gas andliquid contact apparatus, such as a cylindrical refining or bubble tower, which can be provided 'with any" desired number of vertically spaced trays alternately arranged laterally, so as to provide a transverse passage. of the liquid from one side of the tower to the opposite side thereof. In such columns, liquid is directed onto each tray either from an outside source such as through the wall of the tower, or from a downcomer of the next tray above for receiving thedescending liquid and directing it overa seal and distribution weir onto and across the'tray and over an overflow weir into the downspouton the opposite side of the tower. It will be further understood by the person skilled in the art that each tray has one or more flow openings therethrough that allows the gas or vapor to flow from below each of thetrays to points above the same during the operationof the tower to provide inti mate contact and mixing of the upwardly flowing gas or vapor with the descending liquid as the latter laterally traverses each of the trays-Generally, such gas orvapor can be introduced under pressure into the tower through an inlet positioned below a bottom tray of the tower. The gaseous material can be taken from the tower through an exit opening positioned above the uptraversing upwardly through each tray.

Thus, in FIG. 1, there is shown a section of a contact tray'l0, having one or more flow'openings 1, an dvhaving positioned in said flow openings a .valveas'sembly 20 comprising a cover 21, a depending means' 22 inte- 'grally attached to said cover and'extending through said flow opening 1 and provided with an outwardly facing foot 23, in association with travel limiting means 30.

As is shown in FIG. 2, travel limiting means is slidably mounted on depending means '22. below contact plate 10, said travel limiting means beingreciprocally and rotatably movable on said depending means.

Ino'peration, when the valve is in a nonoperating position, its outer periphery will overlap the flow opening in which the valve assembly is installed, so as-to close the opening. Upon variation in the differential gas pressure below the tray to above the same, the valve is initially rocked or tilted about a single point on its outer periphery in order to raise the opposite side of the valve away from the flow opening, until the travel limiting means engagesthe underside of the tray at a point opposite to the point around which the valve cover is pivoting. As the differential pressure increases, the valve is caused to-rnove about it s new fulcrum on theunderside of the tray and be raised upwardly untillimited by theengagement with the underside of the .tray of the travel limiting means, so as to maintain the valve in its fully open position and confine the valve assembly within the flow opening. V

The following example is illustrative of the invention.

EXAMPLE There were installed'in-a desulfurizing tower in a hydrodesulfurizingplant, wherein a sulfur-containing distillate fraction is hydrogenated "to remove sulfur, contact trays having in'stalledtherein valve assemblies having a substantially circular travel limiting means as shown by element 30 of FIG. 1. The diameter of the aperture of the travel limiting. means was l/32-inch smaller than the diameter of the flow openings-into which the valve assemblies were .installed. Upon -extended use of the tower for removalof hydrogen sulfide from the hydrogenated effluent the tower was found to;

operate satisfactorily'with a lower incidence of valve dislodgment than experienced in similar columns wherein the basic valve does not have incorporated therein the travel limiting means of this-invention.-

Reasonable variations and modifications are possible within the scope' of this disclosure without departing from the spiritand scope thereof; v

I claim:

1. A vapor-liquid contact apparatus. comprising: a housing; i a plurality of superposedvapor-liquid contactingplates therein; I 'downcomers connectingsaid to flow downwardly from an upperto a lower plate, said downcomers being arranged to'pe'rmit liquid -flow in a selected direction on each of said plates;

means for establishing a normal liquid level on each of said plates; V r I v means for the introduction and withdrawal of liquid and vapor from said apparatus;.

each of saidplates being provided with at least one flow opening;

a valve means having a larger area than said flow I opening positionedin at least one of said flow flow opening, the outer periphery of which .has at least one measurement from a first point on said outer periphery to a second point on said outer periphery displaced on said outer periphery from said first point, said measurement being made across said annulus between said first and second points, of a greater length than the maximum distance between two similarly placed points of said flow opening measured in a lik-e'manner.

platesto permitliquid 2. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said flow opening and said cular.

3. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said travel limiting means is a generally circular ring having an inside diameter and an outside diameter, the inside diameter of said ring being greater than the diameter scribed by said legs and less than the diameter scribed by the extremities of said feet of said legs, and the outer diameter of said ring being greater than the diameter of said flow opening.

4. A vapor-liquid contacting apparatus adapted for use in a vapor-liquid separation column comprising a tray having at least one flow opening; a cover placed loosely upon said opening detached from said tray; said cover having a cross-sectional area larger than the area of said flow opening; said cover comprising a peripheral rim; said cover having depending therefrom annularly spaced legs; said legs extending through said flow opening; said legs having an outwardly facing foot attached at the extremity thereof; travel limiting means slidably mounted on said legs below the underside of valve cap are generally cirsaid tray; said travel limiting means comprising an annulus, the inner periphery of which has a geometric configuration corresponding to the geometric configuration of said flow opening, the outer periphery of which has at least one measurement, taken from a first point on said outer periphery to a second point on said outer periphery displaced from said first point and across said' annulus between said points, of .a greater length than the greatest distance between two similarly placed points of said flow opening measured in a like manner.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said flow opening and said cover are generally circular 6. An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said travel limiting means comprises a generally circular ring having an inside diameter and an outside diameter, wherein the inside diameter of said ring is greater than the diameter scribed by said valves and less than the diameter scribed by the extremities of said feet of said legs, and wherein the outer diameter of said ring is greater than the diameter of said flow opening. 

1. A vapor-liquid contact apparatus comprising: a housing; a plurality of superposed vapor-liquid contacting plates therein; downcomers connecting said plates to permit liquid to flow downwardly from an upper to a lower plate, said downcomers being arranged to permit liquid flow in a selected direction on each of said plates; means for establishing a normal liquid level on each of said plates; means for the introduction and withdrawal of liquid and vapor from said apparatus; each of said plates being provided with at least one flow opening; a valve means having a larger area than said flow opening positioned in at least one of said flow openings; said valve means comprising a cap having annularly spaced legs depending therefrom and extending through said flow opening, each of said legs having an outwardly facing foot attached at the extremity thereof; and a travel limiting means, slidably mounted on said legs below the underside of said tray, said travel limiting means comprising an annulus, the inner periphery of which has a geometric configuration corresponding to the geometric configuration of said flow opening, the outer periphery of which has at least one measurement from a first point on said outer periphery to a second point on said outer periphery displaced 180* on said outer periphery from said first point, said measurement being made across said annulus between said first and second points, of a greater length than the maximum distance between two similarly placed points of said flow opening measured in a like manner.
 2. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said flow opening and said valve cap are generally circular.
 3. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said travel limiting means is a generally circular ring having an inside diameter and an outside diameter, the inside diameter of said ring being greater than the diameter scribed by said legs and less than the diameter scribed by the extremities of said feet of said legs, and the outer diameter of said ring being greater than the diameter of said flow opening.
 4. A vapor-liquid contacting apparatus adapted for use in a vapor-liquid separation column comprising a tray having at least one flow opening; a cover placed loosely upon said opening detached from said tray; said cover having a cross-sectional area larger than the area of said flow opening; said cover comprising a peripheral rim; said cover having depending therefrom annularly spaced legs; said legs extending through said flow opening; said legs having an outwardly facing foot attached at the extremity thereof; travel limiting means slidably mounted on said legs below the underside of said tray; said travel limiting means comprising an annulus, the inner periphery of which has a geometric configuration corresponding to the geometric configuration of said flow opening, the outer periphery of which has at least one measurement, taken from a first point on said outer periphery to a second point on said outer periphery displaCed 180* from said first point and across said annulus between said points, of a greater length than the greatest distance between two similarly placed points of said flow opening measured in a like manner.
 5. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said flow opening and said cover are generally circular.
 6. An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said travel limiting means comprises a generally circular ring having an inside diameter and an outside diameter, wherein the inside diameter of said ring is greater than the diameter scribed by said valves and less than the diameter scribed by the extremities of said feet of said legs, and wherein the outer diameter of said ring is greater than the diameter of said flow opening. 